What is a Lathe Chuck?
A lathe chuck is a type of clamp used to hold the rotating tool bit on a lathe. A lathe chuck is also called a collet, as it is shaped like a collar around the tool base and holds the tool firmly in place. The collet is comprised of two pieces: a cylindrical sleeve or inner surface and a cone shaped outer surface. A collet has shallow cuts along the length to provide space for expansion and contraction as the metal heats up and cools with use. There are two types of lathe chuck designs: pulled or pushed. In the pulled version, a threaded section is built into the rear of the tool. As it is used, the grooves pull the lathe chuck in tighter. A push design works using a tapered shape and a threaded cap to push the drill bit deeper into a corresponding socket to create the clamp. Both methods use the same design principle. As the lathe chuck is moved toward the socket, it will contract and tighten the grip on item in the inner cylinder. A lathe chuck is available for both wood and metal la
